'Captain Phillips': A First-Time Actor, Opposite Tom Hanks : NPR Barkhad Abdi (center) learned to swim, navigate small skiff boats, handle weapons — and act — for the film Captain Phillips. Jasin Boland hide caption toggle caption Jasin Boland Barkhad Abdi (center) learned to swim, navigate small skiff boats, handle weapons — and act — for the film Captain Phillips. Jasin Boland Before landing a role opposite Tom Hanks in the film Captain Phillips, Barkhad Abdi had never acted. "This was my first time acting, or even thinking about acting," Abdi tells NPR's Arun Rath. Captain Phillips is based on a true story: the hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama. Hanks stars as the title character, Capt. Richard Phillips, and Adbi plays Muse, the man who leads the charge against ship and crew. Abdi was born in Somalia and lived there until he was 7. At 14, Abdi moved from Yemen to Minneapolis, Minn., which is home to tens of thousands of Somalis. He learned about the role from a local TV ad. He says close to 800 people were at the audition.

After a long day of waiting, he was asked a few questions and finally was handed a script for the character Muse. Though some people in his life were worried about how the film would portray Somalia, Abdi says he had to take the opportunity. "I knew it was a true story, so it was just a chance that I could take," he says. Article continues after sponsorship "I hope people understand the culture clash between these very, very different characters, Capt. Phillips and Muse," Abdi says. "One had just, the normal life, you know, he went to school, college, graduated, family, and now he [has] a job. And the other one is just someone that grew up in a war-torn country, that had no hope, no school, no job, no government, nothing." 'Captain Phillips' And The Terrible Excitement Of Real Action For his role, Abdi trained for over a month to learning how to handle weapons, maneuver the tiny skiff boat, and, most importantly, he says, to swim. Learning to act was a challenge, too. At first, Abdi says, it was difficult to relate to Muse, until he dug deep to realize what they had in common.

"When I really thought of the actual character — he's a very desperate guy that had this only chance to be something. I relate to him simply because I was born in Somalia." As a child in Somalia, Abdi says he witnessed a whole year of the civil war, which began in 1991. "I was really blessed to have parents that got me out. Certainly [Muse] did not have that." "I look at him as someone that had nothing to lose, a ruthless man who has nothing to lose. A man who has nothing to lose is dangerous," Abdi says. "So, that's how I became his character." As for working with Hanks, Abdi says it was an honor. "I did not expect him to be that nice, honestly," Abdi says. "He's a very humble guy and he's a hardworking man." Abdi's performance in the film has been praised by critics. It's inspiring for the first-time actor, but he's cautious. "You know, that's what I want to do.

I want to give it a chance, and I want to see if this was the only character I can act, or [if] I can act." Crew member says Captain Phillips played by Tom Hanks 'was sullen and arrogant' | Daily Mail Online Next He was sullen, arrogant, and no one wanted to sail with him: Crew member says captain played by Tom Hanks in new blockbuster Somali pirate film was no hero Captain Richard Phillips has been labeled a hero after pirates took him hostage from the Maersk Alabama, but a fellow sailor says that's a lie 'Phillips wasn’t the big leader like he is in the movie': The captain played so sympathetically by Hanks has been accused of putting the crew in danger with his self-righteous attitude The film Captain Phillips details how Somali pirates hijacked a U.S. cargo ship in 2009 for the the first time in 200 years Captain Phillips (2013) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends.

Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Director: Paul Greengrass Writers: Billy Ray (screenplay), Richard Phillips (based upon the book "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by) | 1 more credit » Stars: Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence.

a list of 41 titles created 01 Sep 2011 a list of 31 titles created 19 May 2013 a list of 25 titles created 24 Nov 2013 a list of 36 titles created 24 Dec 2013 a list of 48 titles created 03 Jun 2015 Search for " Captain Phillips " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 138 nominations. See more awards » Videos A FedEx executive must transform himself physically and emotionally to survive a crash landing on a deserted island. Director: Robert Zemeckis An eastern immigrant finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there. Director: Steven Spielberg A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.

Director: Ron Howard 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare. Director: Peter Berg 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. Director: Clint Eastwood Two astronauts work together to survive after an accident which leaves them alone in space. Director: Alfonso Cuarón An adventurous mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

Director: Danny Boyle NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy. Director: Ron Howard In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease. Director: Jean-Marc Vallée A grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945. Director: David Ayer During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers. Director: Steven Spielberg A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond. Director: Edward Zwick Edit Storyline Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates.

It is - through director Paul Greengrass's distinctive lens - simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award®-winner Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. Written by Sony Pictures Entertainment Out here survival is everything Genres: Biography | Drama | Thriller Motion Picture Rating ( MPAA ) Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 11 October 2013 (USA) See more » Also Known As: A Captain's Duty See more » Filming Locations: $25,718,314 (USA) (11 October 2013) Gross: Did You Know?

Trivia Tom Hanks claimed that all the interior lifeboat scenes were filmed inside a scale model that was actually on water at all times, resulting in him being vomited on by crew members in the cramped space. See more » Goofs The vehicle that drives Capt. Phillips to the Salalah port in Oman is shown as right side steering. Oman drives on the right and most vehicles have left-hand drive. However, the Middle East has extremely well developed Japanese second-hand imports market. Some of those cars go to Africa but quite a few remain in the region. See more » Quotes Andrea Phillips : You'd think these trips would get easier, but it's just the opposite. Captain Richard Phillips : Well, I feel the same way, Ange. Andrea Phillips : I know this is what we do. This is our life. But it just seems like... the world is moving so fast... right now things are changing so much. Captain Richard Phillips : They sure are. I'll tell you something. It's not gonna be easy for our kids. They'll be going into a different world than the one you and I came into.

Written and Performed by Musa Hanhan Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation (New Jersey) – See all my reviews Hours after the World Premiere of Paul Greengrass' newest psychological thriller "Captain Phillips," my heart is still palpating at a hundred beats per minute. Starring the magnificent Tom Hanks in his finest performance since "Cast Away," this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride lands as one of the best films of the New York Film Festival and the year. An intricate and precisely executed thriller written by Billy Ray, everything about "Captain Phillips" works amazingly. It's this year's "Zero Dark Thirty" in tension and features not one, but two fierce performances from Tom Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi. A loose dramatization and not a fact to fact retelling of a dark day for an American captain, the film takes us through the days Captain Richard Phillips' cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. The film unravels itself with a narrative intensity bringing our hero from the day of his departure to the end of his journey. Writer Billy Ray's detailed and well-structured script provides Greengrass to do exactly what he does best in his directorial efforts.

There are definite elements in "Captain Phillips" that remind me of the emotional and gut- wrenching effect that "United 93" had on so many of us nearly seven years ago. While you will have a near heart attack, you will be in tears by the end credits. I haven't been this impressed with the work of Tom Hanks in years. Putting every ounce of his charm to good use but digging deep into a character with such raw and emotional fervency. Hanks' dedication and abilities utilized are the same tools used in his first Oscar-winning performance in "Philadelphia" I assure you. It's a turn that could make him this year's Daniel Day-Lewis. As his wife, the beautiful Catherine Keener is regulated to one single scene, at the beginning of our film, where Hanks dominates the conversation. Still a cherry on top if you ask me but not something that many will notice nor remember.. Breakthrough performer Barkhad Abdi is simply sensational. With a snarky demeanor as he calls Capt. Phillips "Irish" - Abdi plays Muse, a Somali pirate that is layered with pride and disdain for the human condition.

Billy Ray gives him such a complexity, hinting at a sensitive undertone but not masking the overtly violent rage that embodies his soul; it's a creative formula that equals an interesting dichotomy. Abdi administers these traits brilliantly. As you expect any Paul Greengrass film to be, the technical executions are top-notch including the intimate Cinematography by Barry Ackroyd and the tight editing of Christopher Rouse, both sure-fire Oscar nominees for awards season. One of the amazing things about "Captain Phillips" is the final twenty minutes or so. Pent-up emotion that has built for nearly two hours, our hero's last moments with the audience are both triumphant and incredibly vulnerable. This is when Tom Hanks shows his true power as one of the finest actors to grace our screens. I admire the man. He captures the real human condition, both in courage and in the face of defeat. How would you react in what you thought could be your final moments on Earth? Who would you think about? What about if you did make it? Would you be so overcome with emotion that you couldn't focus on the blanket of safety that surrounds you, or would you just crumble into the fetus position, wanting to return to your place of origin?

"Captain Phillips" renewed my love of the movies. It's what breathes life into my daily routine. It fascinates us and which is why, no matter how terrible our lives are, or how the economy falls beneath our feet, cinema still lives. Free as a bird. I'm in awe of all of this. I feel privileged to share those moments. Not to be hyperbolic or put focus on the Oscar race, which is what I do for a living, but "Captain Phillips" showed me what Tom Hanks really means to cinema. Our lives are habitual and ordinary at times, yet someone, every now and again, has the ability to capture those little quirks of our own selves. I think Hanks is this generation's treasure that will be remembered for years to come. I'm in near tears as I write this now. Paul Greengrass brought me personally into a situation that I will likely never be in and examined my frail and defenseless spiritual nature. Connection. That's what cinema is about. Few films do this. Many never will. To get off the somber note, "Captain Phillips" is filled with high- levels of tension.

Bring your defibrillator and a bottle of Xanex to make it through the picture as your heart will be beating outside of your chest. In so many ways, it's the perfect film. Real life, authentic characters, and a cast and crew that show up to deliver some of their finest works. A dynamite lesson of the human psyche. "Captain Phillips" opens in theaters October 11. 212 of 315 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Captain Phillips: A Review | Mormon Iconoclast Mormon Iconoclast An eclectic blog about Mormonism, politics, pop culture and baseball Menu 1 Reply I finally saw Captain Phillips today, three weeks after it opened. I’m not going to apologize for finally reviewing it, though. When I started this blog, I knew I wanted to review movies and theatre and stuff, but I wanted my reviews to reflect the way people actual see really see movies. Professional critics get their reviews out just before the opening weekend, which is important for the commercial success of failure of movies. But I’m more interested in analysis than thumbs up/thumbs down movie reviewing. That’s also why I don’t worry about spoilers.

Your friends don’t, when they tell you about a flick they liked. So, at the end of Captain Phillips, the title character, played by Tom Hanks, is escorted by SEALS to a Navy ship, where he’s treated by a medical corpsman. He’s survived a horrendous experience, his ship taken by pirates, then, when they escape in a life boat, taken hostage. He’s been threatened, abused, shot at, and nearly executed. Thanks to the efficient marksmanship of Navy SEALS, he’s now been rescued. And he can barely talk. He’s so deeply in shock, he can barely remember his name. He can’t tell medical personnel where it hurts–has to gesture vaguely. The camera lingers forever, it seems, on his traumatized face. It’s a fantastic performance by Tom Hanks, of course, but it’s also perhaps the finest cinematic portrayals of the medical condition we call ‘shock’ ever filmed. That moment should be triumphant. US military might has defeated the bad guys, killed three of them and arrested the fourth. Hanks has been saved, will be able to return to his family, will be able to resume his life and his career.

But director Paul Greengrass doesn’t treat it that way, as some kind of affirmation of American military power. In fact, it feels oddly tragic. The whole film does. The title is Captain Phillips, but he’s neither the most important nor the most compelling character in the film. The heart of the film isn’t the hijacking of Phillips’ cargo ship, but the days Phillips spends in his ship’s lifeboat, held hostage by four Somali pirates. And the key relationship in the film is between Hanks’ character, and the pirate captain, a skinny Somali pirate named Muse, superbly played by Barkhad Abdi . Abdi’s from Somalia, by way of Yemen and Minnesota. Has a degree from Minnesota State. He was working as a chauffeur when Greengrass cast him; he has no previous acting experience. And he’s tremendous. Muse is a skinny guy with huge, bad teeth. As Abdi plays him, he’s intelligent and an effective, if soft-spoken natural leader. After he first hijacks the ship, he stands in the control room, looking at all the computer screens and electronic gizmos that run the ship. He stares at the machinery, caresses a monitor.

Then, in frustration, he begins striking at it with his hands. He has no chance of running this ship, and he knows it. He’s just captured the biggest thing he can imagine capturing, and it’s essentially useless to him. Captain Phillips offers him a reasonable deal. He has $30,000 in cash on board, in a safe (which I assume is normal for cargo ships in those waters), and he can give the pirates that money plus the life boat. It’s a decent haul. But we’ve already seen the pressure Muse is under. A Somali warlord is a demanding boss. Thirty grand won’t cut it. There’s a certain relief evident when he takes Phillips hostage–he can collect a kidnapping ransom, and still come out ahead, and it won’t require learning how to navigate an entire modern American cargo ship. Because that’s really what this movie is about, a clash of civilizations. It’s what happens when an essentially pre-modern (though heavily armed) society pisses of the greatest technological and military power the world has ever seen. In a key exchange, Hanks looks compassionately at Muse and says something like ‘you don’t have to do this.

You could do more with your life.’ And Muse replies sadly “maybe in America. Maybe in America.” Of all the miserable, poor, violent, screwed-up countries on earth, Somalia may be the most seriously screwed-up. It’s what happens when, without even the rudiments of government, you try to build a culture around AKs and khat chewing. But Somalia’s coast line is right along shipping routes between very very wealthy countries. And Somalia’s previous main industry was fishing. You’ve got a country with lots of guns, lots of people who own boats and know how to use them, with badly over-fished coastal waters. (Over-fished by Western fisherman, says Muse). Hardly surprising that so many Somali sailors turn to piracy, supervised, financed and armed by local warlords. Desperation and poverty and violence. And so these ragged, skinny, desperate young men capture a cargo ship, with no idea after that what to do with it. And then, having taken a hostage, run afoul of the United States Navy. Muse is the leader, but all four pirates are fully realized characters; more individuated than Captain Phillips’ crew, for example.

Bilal (Barkhad Abdirahman) is the enforcer, barely sane, hair-trigger violent and subject to berserker rages. Only Muse can control him, and even then, only occasionally. Najee (Faysal Ahmed) is maybe sixteen, and barefoot; his role the all-crucial one of khat supplier. He seems mostly terrified throughout. And Elmi (Mahat M. Ali) is the boat guy, the guy who knows how to steer a small boat in ocean waves and how to maintain and outboard motor. He’s the voice of reason throughout, Muse’s right hand man. We know all four guys. We grow to care about them, as people. And once the Navy ships show up, we know they have no chance whatsoever. They’re going to be killed, the only question being whether Phillips survives. The question of Phillips’ survival is a powerful one, and I don’t mean to suggest that the last half hour of the film is anything less than completely suspenseful. But the Somalis are doomed. And at least three of them are intelligent guys, people who could, given some education and opportunity make something useful of their lives.

In fact, even scary Bilal isn’t treated with contempt by the filmmaker. Khat addiction, and a childhood filled with violence (both of which the film suggests), could warp anyone. Paul Greengrass is an extraordinary director, politically minded, but also a fine entertainer–he made the best two Bourne movies, for example. This is one of those ‘based on a true story’ movies. Rich Phillips is a real guy, and his ship really was hijacked, and he really did survive despite terrible treatment. And the real-life Muse is, as in the movie, currently in federal prison. But while making an exciting, powerful, entertaining movie, Greengrass also does something else. He makes us care about the third world. He makes us care about Somalia. The Real Story: Captain Phillips and the Somali Pirates - Movie Mom The Real Story: Captain Phillips and the Somali Pirates Intense, graphic, and disturbing violence including threats, torture, and guns Diversity Issues: DVD Release Date: January 27, 2014 This week’s release of “Captain Phillips” is based on the real-life story of the 2009 capture of an American merchant ship by Somali pirates.

The title character, played by Tom Hanks, was kidnapped by the pirates and held for ransom. [SPOILER ALERT: Do not read further if you want to be surprised by the developments in the film.] Captain Richard Phillips was rescued by the Navy Seals after sharpshooters killed three of the four pirates. The leader of the pirates is played by Barkhad Abdi, a Somali immigrant who moved to Minnesota with his family when he was seven, in his first role as an actor. In an interview , he explained that he was selected for the role following a casting call that included more than 700 other men who wanted to be in the film. He trusted director Paul Greengrass to present the Somali characters without demonizing them. One of his quotes, he said [my character] was just a simple man that was in a situation that was bigger than him. Because this piracy thing is basically international organized crime. The people that actually benefit out of it are not even in Somalia; they’re somewhere in Europe or America or some other country. And it’s a big corporation. And the people that actually take the risk don’t even take much.

He talked about how he put himself in the frame of mind of his character, a desperate young man. That was important to me. Because as a person, I was born in Somalia, you know? I left Somalia when I was seven years old, but I witnessed a whole year in a war. I witnessed the war’s beginning, which was really extraordinarily crazy. Just the same neighborhood that you were born and you grow and the same good people. That’s all you’ve seen in the world — and just torn to a disaster overnight: killing and rape and all this unbelievable stuff going on. I was lucky enough to have parents that took me out from country to country and go to school and learn how to be a better person. But, I used a lot of imagination. Like, what if that was me? What if I didn’t have the same parents I have? What if my parents would have passed away? I mean, this would have been about me. I know exactly the situation he’s in, because Somalia didn’t have a country for the last 24 years. There’s no jobs; there’s no hope. And besides the fact that all these guys become millionaires right in front of you — people that you know.

That’s enough motivation to take your chance fully. You’re either going to live good or you’re going to die trying. Greengrass kept his lead actors apart until they were filming their scenes. It was really a great idea, because it’s not an easy task coming on as just a crazy guy that’s taking over and being so mean to someone that you know and you admire, you know? So it was good that I hadn’t met him. The movie is very true to the real story, as Richard Phillips described it in his book, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea . It describes the takeover of the ship by four young pirates and their insistence on a ransom of millions of dollars. Captain Phillips protected his crew and was taken hostage for four days of abuse and threats. President Obama said after it was over, “I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans.” Some members of the crew have filed lawsuits against the shipping company, alleging that their negligence put the crew at risk by going too close to the Somali coast, despite warnings to stay at least 600 miles away.

But there is no question that Captain Phillips’ courage and determination kept his crew safe at the risk of his own life and the extraordinary skill of the Navy Seals is what kept him alive. <p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p> Francine Maisler’s Journey to Find Authentic Somali-American Actors for ‘Captain Phillips' | Backstage Francine Maisler’s Journey to Find Authentic Somali-American Actors for ‘Captain Phillips' By Melinda Loewenstein | Posted Nov. 25, 2013, 11 a.m. Share: Tom Hanks Photo Source: Hopper Stone The real-life story of the hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates lends itself well to an action-packed adventure film. Director Paul Greengrass offers a dramatic and theatrical modern-day pirate story from Billy Ray’s screenplay, based on the book by Captain Richard Phillips. But the intense and emotional story that found the title character kidnapped at sea wasn’t the only challenge facing casting director Francine Maisler. With Tom Hanks already attached as Captain Phillips, Maisler knew the real challenge would be finding actors to play the pirates. Since the film was based on true events, one important factor in casting was authenticity.

“I don’t think there was ever a question of wanting to find real Somali men for our pirates,” says Maisler. “Regardless of the name level of the rest of the cast, we were all committed to authenticity.” Casting a wide net for the search, Maisler held open calls in Minneapolis, Ohio, and San Diego because of the large Somali-American communities in those areas. “Finding the Somali men to play the pirates was a daunting task. The sheer number of candidates we saw was quite intimidating from the start.” Starting with a pool of more than 1,000 actors, the process of reviewing and eliminating possibilities was time-consuming; the search took nearly three months, but it was worth the investment when the pirate crew was finally found. Maisler found the first of her pirates in Minnesota. When Barkhad Abdi came in to read for head pirate Muse, Maisler says they could see “his capacity for all the layers necessary to the part and his natural ability.” But they had three pirates to go. Once they narrowed the options, Maisler had the actors perform in groups of four. “The four we ended up casting, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, and Mahat M.

Ali, stood out immediately and really seemed like a crew already. Even when we mixed and matched among groups of four, we always came back to our guys.” Meanwhile, Maisler was also seeing actors in L.A. to round out the rest of the cast. After finding the pirates, the rest of the pieces fell into place relatively easily. Catherine Keener was an early choice to play the small role of Phillips’ wife and signed on quickly. Max Martini, Chris Mulkey, and David Warshofsky were cast as crew and military personnel; though most of the film is spent with Phillips and his captors, the numerous supporting roles make it clear how many other men were in danger at the time and how many more people were involved in getting Phillips and the ship to safety. Casting Director: Francine Maisler Writer: Billy Ray Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali The Pitch: This drama is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the American cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates and the subsequent kidnapping of Captain Richard Phillips.

Read Also: How Breakthrough 'Captain Phillips' Actor Connected To The Role : NPR How Breakthrough 'Captain Phillips' Actor Connected To The Role Embed Embed Embed Embed Transcript This past week, Somali-born actor Barkhad Abdi received an Academy Award nomination for his role opposite Tom Hanks in the film Captain Phillips. The part was his first acting role. Abdi plays a Somali pirate who leads the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. He spoke with NPR's Arun Rath in October about learning to relate to his character. (This story originally aired on All Things Considered on Oct. 20, 2013.) ARUN RATH, HOST: "Captain Phillips" is one of those films, a true life story of war and drama. It's based on the story of the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. Five years ago, pirates attacked the freighter ship off the coast of Somalia. The film star is Tom Hanks as the title character, Captain Richard Phillips, and Barkhad Abdi as the man who leads the charge to capture the ship and crew. (SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS") BARKHAD ABDI: (As Muse) Look at me.

TOM HANKS: (As Captain Phillips) Sure. ABDI: (As Muse) Look at me. HANKS: (As Captain Phillips) Sure. ABDI: (As Muse) I'm the captain now. RATH: But here's where the formula gets upended. Hank's was ignored in the Best Actor category and first-time actor Barkhad Abdi was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. It's not just his lack of movie experience that makes Abdi an unlikely Oscar nominee. Abdi was born in Somalia. His family moved to Yemen when he was 7, and he didn't get to the U.S. until he was 14. When I spoke with him last October, he told me that he learned about the "Captain Phillips" role from a TV ad. ABDI: Casting call, Tom Hanks film, Somali actors. And I went there to give it a chance. RATH: So just a wide-open casting call and had to have been a lot of people showed up for that, right? ABDI: Yeah. It was about - close to 800 people was there auditioning. You have to wait in line.

And after a long day of waiting, I was given the script. I was assigned to a character, Muse. (SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS") ABDI: (As Muse) Captain... HANKS: (as Captain Phillips) The ship's broken. ABDI: (As Muse) Captain, no one get hurts if you don't play no game. HANKS: (As Captain Phillips) It's - the ship's broken. The - we had to go... ABDI: (As Muse) Nobody gets hurt. RATH: Have you done any acting before? ABDI: You know, I have not done any acting before. I shot some music videos, but I was never in front of camera then. This was my first time acting or even thinking about acting. RATH: You knew the story that the film was portraying. Did you have any concerns about auditioning for a role like this, worried about maybe the way that Somalis were going to be portrayed? ABDI: Well, people around me did, you know? But to me, it was just an opportunity. I knew the true story, so it was just a chance that I can take.

(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS") RATH: I'm thinking about some of the scenes in the film where this tiny little skiff is attacking this giant shipping vessel. ABDI: Right. RATH: What was it like, you know, learning how to go through that during the staging of it? ABDI: You know, I went through about a month and a half of training on the basics of the film, you know? My character, you know, he's a pirate. (SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS") ABDI: He is someone that is used to the waters, someone that's used to weapons, fighting, skiffs. So I had to learn all that. (SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS") ABDI: Most importantly, I had to learn how to swim. RATH: Hmm. You didn't know how to swim. ABDI: No. RATH: Obviously, you're not a pirate. So how was it, you know, not being an actor to relate to this character? I mean, what did you find in him to relate with?

ABDI: It was difficult at first. But, you know, when I really thought of the actual character, he's a very desperate guy that had his only chance to be something. I relate to him simply because I was born in Somalia. I lived there till I was 7 years old. And I witnessed a whole year of the war - killings, rape, you name it. I was really blessed to have parents that got me out. Certainly, he did not have that. I look at him as someone that had nothing to lose. A man that have nothing to lose is very dangerous. So that's how I became his character. RATH: Can I ask you, what was it like working with Tom Hanks? ABDI: It was an honor. You know, it was an honor. I did not expect him to be that nice, honestly. He's a very humble guy, and he's a hardworking man. RATH: You came to America when you were 14. What was it like for you when you first came to America? ABDI: You know, it was exciting. But at the same time, it was life-changing.

I had to start high school at a country that I don't speak the language. And it was hard. At the same time, it was easy because of the large Somali community in Minneapolis. I fit right in, honestly. It was just a whole new life for me. RATH: You're off to a pretty amazing start as an actor. Your performance has been praised by a lot of critics. I'm wondering, are you going to keep on with this now as a career? ABDI: You know, that's what I want to do. I want to give it a chance, and I want to see if this was the only character I can act or I can act. RATH: Are there other sorts of roles you'd like to play? Would you like to play a hero? ABDI: I don't think of myself as the hero, honestly, but I'm an open person, you know? I don't know. That'd be a better look for my family, I guess. RATH: Right. With this incident that's dramatized in the film "Captain Phillips," a lot of Americans, you know, all they know about it was what they heard in the news.

And there's - I think it's safe to say in the film, there's a lot more context to the experience of the Somalis. What are you hoping that people will take away from the film in America? ABDI: I hope people will understand the culture clash between these very, very different characters, Captain Phillips and Muse. You know, one had just the normal life, you know? He went to school, college, graduated, family and now he have a job. And the other one is just someone that grew up in a war-torn country that have, you know, no hope, no school, no job, no government, nothing. And they meet in something that's - in forces outside of their control. And, you know, that shows a lot about life. You live life, and you know you have to survive somehow someway. And, you know, you just live it, you know? And you never give up, and you just keep going. RATH: That's Actor Barkhad Abdi from a conversation that first aired back in October. Abdi was just nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the film "Captain Phillips." Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved.

Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc. , an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. View All Critic Reviews (246) Audience Reviews for Captain Phillips The film's much discussed and likely inaccuracies aside, when it comes to the portrayal of real occurrences of recent history, it doesn't get much better than this. The direction, the script, the acting all work in favor of a realistic, sobering and terrifying retelling of events. Tom Hanks delivers one of his strongest performances of the last 15 years as regular man getting thrown into events beyond his own control. Especially the last couple of scenes stay with you for a very long time. Sure, the showdown feels a bit like a Navy Seals recruitment video, but even that doesn't take anything away from the film's power and desperate atmosphere.

It's the only part that feels even remotely hollywoodized anyway, the rest is as gritty and unpleasant as you imagine the hijacking of a freighter ship to be. Much praise has to go to the amateur actors in the Somali roles too. Not only do they give their characters a threatening face, they also look beyond the veil and ask for the reasons behind such desperate measures. Jens S. Super Reviewer Greengrass proves once again that he can build apprehension and sustain it like few can, even when we have a good idea of where the plot is heading, and Hanks' incredible performance raises it from extremely urgent to a deeply moving, heartbreaking experience. Carlos Magalhães Super Reviewer Powerful and intense with excellent acting from all especially Tom Hanks, perhaps the best he's ever been. jay nixon Super Reviewer A remarkable performance from Tom Hanks in his middle age since we missed him from his movies from the 90's, too bad the academy didn't appreciate him enough to make the list for Best Actor.. Meanwhile, Barkhad Abdi's performance as Muse got a delightful attention from the critics with 1 BAFTA Awards and an Oscar nomination..

The story itself is quite interesting, but how Paul Greengrass made the movie is another thumbs up since he make not only a great drama but also a thrilling movie that will keep the audiences hold their breath like they been on Phillip's experience.. Overall, 'Captain Phillips' definitely one of the best movies in 2013.. Sanjaya 丘耀文 Joshua Keating Joshua Keating is a staff writer at Slate focusing on international affairs. There may be little proven connection between the Somali pirates depicted in the new film Captain Phillips and the al Shabab militants targeted last Saturday, but the new Tom Hanks movie, directed by Paul Greengrass, comes out at a time when the international security threats posed by the world’s most unstable country are very much in the news. Recent events will likely color U.S. audiences’ perceptions of the events portrayed. And while Captain Phillips works well as a fast-paced thriller, it doesn’t try to provide much context for what’s happening on screen. The film is as tightly focused on the saga of Richard Phillips (Hanks) as one of director Greengrass’s many behind-the-head handheld shots.

Unlike other reenactment films—such as last year’s Argo , which featured an extensive prologue on the history leading up to the film—Captain Phillips drops viewers right into the action, beginning just before the fateful encounter between Phillips and the pirate crew led by Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse (Barkhad Abdi). This may have been the better choice from a narrative point of view, but it means that viewers may leave the movie not knowing much more about modern piracy than they did when they walked in. Advertisement For instance: In the film, Muse briefly mentions foreign vessels coming to take away the fish off the Somali coast. Viewers new to the subject may not know what to make of these remarks, but they refer to what many observers believe was a precipitating cause of the uptick in Somali piracy roughly 20 years ago. When the regime of longtime Somali dictator Siad Barre collapsed in 1991, the country was plunged into ongoing violence between rival armed groups and left without a central government capable of defending the country’s economic interests—including the “exclusive economic zone” off the Somali coast. Fleets from Europe and Asia quickly moved in , depleting the supply of fish.

As an African Development Bank report from 2011 put it, “Fishermen, dismayed at the inability of the central government to protect their country’s EEZ, and at the number of foreign fishing vessels illegally exploiting their traditional fisheries, took matters into their own hands. Initially arming themselves to chase off the illegal foreign fishing vessels, they quickly realized that robbing the vessels was a lucrative way to make up for lost income. Seeing their success, land based warlords co-opted some of the new pirates, organizing them into increasingly sophisticated gangs.” (There have also been periodic reports of toxic waste being dumped off Somalia’s shores, including by the Italian mafia .) Unlike pirates in most parts of the world, who specialize in stealing goods on board ships, Somali pirates nearly always hold ships for ransom , sometimes for months at a time. (The Maersk Alabama incident depicted in Captain Phillips was unusual in that the crew fought off the pirates after they had already boarded.) Shipping companies were generally willing to write off pirate ransoms as the cost of doing business. This ransoms could reach as high as $9.5 million though they were generally around half of that.

So it’s not surprising that the pirates in the movie aren’t impressed by Phillips’ offer of the $30,000 in the ship’s safe. By 2008, piracy had grown into a $50 million per year industry in the country. In 2009, the year of the Maersk Alabama hijacking, pirates carried out 214 attacks , leading to 47 hijackings. By 2011 it was up to 237 , though the number of successful hijackings decreased. Advertisement But that year also marked a turning point with the establishment of Combined Task Force 151 Combined Task Force 151, the multinational naval unit tasked with protecting shipping from piracy off the Somali coast. If nothing else, Captain Phillips gives a good sense of the firepower mismatch between western naval vessels and the pirates they were sent to hunt. While initially met with skepticism, the task force, combined with improved security on board ships—many merchant vessels now carry armed military contractors on board when passing through—does seem to have had an impact. The improving security situation on land in Somalia also likely played a role.

The number of attacks lummeted in 2012 , and so far this year, there have been only 10 reported attacks by Somali pirates and two hijackings. In an ironic development, some pirates have now gone into a new line of business, protecting illegal fishing boats . This isn’t to say that the problem of piracy has gone away. In fact, the number of attacks off Somalia are now exceeded by attacks off the coast of West Africa, particularly in the oil rich Gulf of Guinea. But the situation where Richard Phillips sailed has changed drastically. Captain Phillips may feel particularly current given the events of the past week, but it’s more of a historical document than audiences are likely to realize.

Question: Who played the title role in the modern day pirate film 'Captain Philips'?
Answer: Tom Hanks